Sendle tracking

What is Sendle?

Sendle was an Australian virtual courier company founded in 2014 in Sydney by James Bradfield Moody, who also served as CEO, Sean Geoghegan, and Craig Davis. Rather than employing its own drivers or maintaining a proprietary delivery fleet the company operated as a technology platform and logistics aggregator, contracting with established local carriers to move parcels through its coverage network. This asset-light model allowed Sendle to offer flat-rate pricing with no contracts or minimum order quantities to small and medium-sized businesses that could not otherwise access competitive shipping rates. Sendle achieved B Corporation certification in its founding year, making it Australia's first carbon-neutral delivery service from the outset.

The company grew steadily through the mid-2010s, passing the milestone of 100 million kilometres of deliveries by August 2016, the same year it closed a Series A funding round of A$5 million. A January 2019 Series B round of A$20 million funded the launch of US operations, and a June 2021 Series C round of A$45 million followed. In total, Sendle raised over $100 million across five rounds from more than 13 investors over its lifetime, including Federation Asset Management, AP Ventures, NRMA, and Full Circle Venture Capital. Operations expanded from Australia to the United States in 2019 and then to Canada in 2022, covering three countries at its peak.

Sendle's final chapter began in August 2025, when the company merged with US logistics firm ACI Logistix and FastMile , later known as FirstMile, to form a new entity called FAST Group, with Moody continuing as CEO of Sendle within the group structure. The merger proved fatal when Federation Asset Management, which held approximately 64% of FAST Group's capital, discovered significant financial deficiencies in ACI Logistix's records after the deal closed. Sendle stopped accepting new packages on 11 January 2026 and closed its Australian and Canadian operations. On 25 February 2026, Sendle formally entered creditors' voluntary liquidation, with Shaun Fraser and Jason Preston of McGrathNicol appointed as liquidators per documents filed with ASIC.

• Founded: 2014, in Sydney, Australia, by James Bradfield Moody, Sean Geoghegan, and Craig Davis
• Operational status: Defunct; ceased accepting shipments on 11 January 2026 and entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 25 February 2026
• Headquarters: Sydney, Australia, with a secondary office in Seattle, Washington, United States
• Certifications: B Corporation (since 2014) and Climate Neutral Certified
• Total parcels shipped: More than 65 million over its 12-year operational life
• Total funding raised: Over $100 million across five rounds from more than 13 investors
• Key investors: Federation Asset Management, AP Ventures, NRMA, Full Circle Venture Capital, Rampersand and Giant Leap
• Domestic delivery partners (Australia): Couriers Please and Fastway, later rebranded as Aramex
• Domestic delivery partners (USA): USPS and FedEx
• International delivery partner: DHL eCommerce, covering over 180 countries and territories

During its operational years, Sendle positioned itself as the affordable, environmentally responsible alternative to incumbent postal services, particularly Australia Post. The company described its mission as levelling the playing field for small businesses that lacked the shipping volumes to negotiate bulk carrier rates. Its primary competitors in Australia included Australia Post, Aramex, and CouriersPlease, while internationally it competed with platforms such as Shippit and ShipStation. Sendle integrated with major e-commerce platforms including eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero, establishing itself as an e-commerce-native shipping solution over its 12-year operational life.

Which countries does Sendle deliver to?

Sendle operated in three countries during its active years, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Australia was the company's founding and primary market where it built its initial network using Couriers Please and Fastway , later known as Aramex, as domestic delivery partners. Coverage spanned metropolitan, regional, and remote areas across the country, though all deliveries required a physical street address. Parcels could not be sent to PO boxes, post offices, parcel lockers, parcel collect locations, or locked bags, as those are Australia Post-owned properties excluded by infrastructure agreements between the two carriers.

The United States was Sendle's second market launched in 2019 with a headquarters established in Seattle, Washington. For US domestic shipments, Sendle partnered with USPS and FedEx, automatically selecting the most efficient carrier based on package size, weight, and destination zip code. Canada was added as Sendle's third and final market in 2022. Both Canadian and Australian operations closed simultaneously in January 2026 when the company ceased accepting new packages following the collapse of the FAST Group merger.

Internationally, Sendle could ship to over 180 countries and territories worldwide through its DHL eCommerce partnership, with some sources citing coverage extending to over 220 countries. Countries subject to US trade embargoes, such as North Korea, were excluded from the service, as were any destinations where the local postal authority did not have an arrangement with DHL. International deliveries transited through DHL's global network, with the shipment handled by Sendle until export from Australia, then passed to DHL for customs clearance and final delivery in the destination country.

• Australia: Full coverage of metropolitan, regional, and remote areas via Couriers Please and Fastway/Aramex; physical street addresses required; PO boxes and Australia Post-owned properties excluded
• United States: Domestic coverage via USPS and FedEx partnerships, with automatic carrier selection based on parcel specifications
• Canada: Domestic coverage added in 2022; operations closed January 2026
• New Zealand: International delivery estimated at 4-11 business days from Australia
• Asia: International delivery estimated at 10-20 business days from Australia
• United Kingdom: International delivery estimated at 5-18 business days from Australia
• European Union: International delivery estimated at 5-20 business days from Australia
• United States and Canada (from Australia): International delivery estimated at 10-20 business days
• Rest of world: International delivery estimated at 14-30 business days within the serviceable DHL eCommerce network

This delivery time structure reflected the realities of air freight transit combined with customs clearance variability in each destination country. Shorter lanes such as New Zealand benefited from proximity and established DHL capacity on trans-Tasman routes, while more distant markets in Latin America or sub-Saharan Africa fell into the broader 14-30 business day window. Destinations excluded from service included countries under US trade embargoes and any territory lacking a DHL network arrangement, which left the vast majority of global commerce markets accessible to Sendle shippers.

What are the Sendle services and delivery times?

Sendle offered a tiered range of domestic services across Australia and the United States, as well as an international delivery service from Australia via DHL eCommerce. In Australia, the standard domestic service typically delivered within one to four business days for metropolitan and regional shipments, with same-city deliveries commonly arriving overnight. A lightweight option called the 250g Sendle Pouch catered specifically to small, flat items weighing no more than 250 grams, with a maximum length of 80 centimetres and a maximum volume of four litres.

The Sendle Express service in Australia offered accelerated delivery for time-sensitive domestic shipments. Parcels booked before 12pm were collected the same day, with most deliveries arriving the next business day and the remainder within two days. Shipments between major city pairs, such as Sydney and Melbourne, typically arrived within two to three business days under this tier. Remote and rural deliveries attracted additional surcharges and longer timeframes regardless of service level, reflecting the higher cost of last-mile delivery to those areas.

In the United States, Sendle offered four domestic service options. The Saver tier was the most affordable and suited to senders with flexible timelines, delivering within three to eight business days. The Preferred tier delivered within one to five business days and included USD $150 in automatic Sendle Cover insurance, compared to USD $100 for Standard accounts. The two premium tiers, 2-Day Guaranteed and 3-Day Guaranteed, committed to delivery within two or three business days respectively and came with a full money-back guarantee if the first attempted delivery date exceeded the commitment. Packages booked before 12pm under either guaranteed tier were eligible for same-day pickup.

• 250g Sendle Pouch (Australia): Lightweight option for small, flat items; maximum weight 250 grams, maximum length 80 centimetres, maximum volume four litres
• Standard Domestic (Australia): General domestic delivery; same-city overnight, major city pairs 2-3 business days, general domestic 1-4 business days
• Sendle Express (Australia): Accelerated service; same-day pickup if booked before 12pm, most deliveries next business day
• Sendle Saver (USA): Entry-level domestic tier; delivery within 3-8 business days
• Sendle Preferred (USA): Mid-range domestic tier; delivery within 1-5 business days; USD $150 in included Sendle Cover insurance
• 2-Day Guaranteed (USA): Guaranteed delivery within 2 business days; same-day pickup if booked before 12pm; full refund if commitment is missed
• 3-Day Guaranteed (USA): Guaranteed delivery within 3 business days; same-day pickup if booked before 12pm; same money-back terms as the 2-Day service
• International (from Australia): Available to over 180 countries via DHL eCommerce; New Zealand 4-11 business days, United Kingdom 5-18 business days, Asia and North America 10-20 business days, rest of world 14-30 business days

Sendle did not operate on weekends or public holidays. All pickup and delivery activity was conducted Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. Return label services were also available for senders needing customers to ship items back, though return shipments were drop-off only and were not eligible for Sendle Cover insurance. Refunds on guaranteed delivery services required the sender to contact Sendle support within 15 business days of the originally scheduled delivery date.

What are the Sendle rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Sendle calculated shipping rates based on the greater of a parcel's actual weight or its volumetric weight, a standard industry formula that accounts for the space a parcel occupies in a vehicle or aircraft relative to its physical mass. The volumetric formula multiplied height in metres by length in metres by width in metres, then by 250, yielding the cubic weight in kilograms. Under this formula, one cubic metre equates to 250 kilograms of charged weight. Senders with compact, dense parcels benefited from this approach, while those shipping large, lightweight items would be billed at the higher volumetric rate rather than the actual weight.

In Australia, Sendle structured its pricing around three account tiers based on monthly parcel volume. The Standard tier had no minimum order quantities, no contracts, and no hidden fees, making it accessible to occasional senders and those just starting out. The Premium tier required a minimum of 20 parcels per month and offered lower per-parcel rates. The Pro tier required a minimum of 200 parcels per month, offered the lowest per-parcel rates, and included free API integration for automated shipping workflows. The same three-tier structure applied to international shipments from Australia, with higher-volume tiers receiving progressively lower per-parcel rates to international destinations.

Remote area surcharges applied in Australia for deliveries to rural and regional locations not covered under standard metropolitan pricing. These charges ranged from approximately AUD $9 to AUD $22 depending on parcel size. Post-delivery adjustments were also possible if the actual dimensions or weight of a parcel differed from what was declared at booking, with Sendle applying an additional charge reflecting the true billable weight of the shipment in those cases.

• Pricing model: Greater of actual weight versus volumetric weight; formula is height (m) x length (m) x width (m) x 250 = cubic weight in kg; one cubic metre equals 250 kg charged weight
• Australia account tiers: Standard (no minimums), Premium (minimum 20 parcels per month), Pro (minimum 200 parcels per month, includes free API integration)
• Remote area surcharges (Australia): Approximately AUD $9-$22 depending on parcel size
• Maximum weight and size (Australia domestic): 25 kg and 100 litres
• Maximum weight and size (Canada domestic): 30 kg and 150 litres
• Maximum weight and size (USA domestic): 31.8 kg and 11,629 cubic inches; maximum combined length and circumference of 274 cm
• Maximum weight and size (international from Australia): 20 kg and 100 litres
• Prohibited US shipments: Packages over 22.7 kg or 3,000 cubic inches under standard pricing; alcoholic beverages with an ABV of 0.6% or greater (excluding medicines); marijuana, CBD, and hemp products

What are the Sendle delivery options?

Sendle's primary delivery model was built around free door-to-door pickup. Every booking included collection from the sender's address at no additional cost, removing the need to travel to a post office or depot before shipping. In Australia, senders who preferred not to wait for a courier could alternatively drop their parcels at Sendle's national network of over 900 drop-off locations, powered by HUBBED. These points included BP petrol stations, newsagencies, pharmacies, and convenience stores, many of which operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving senders significant flexibility outside standard business hours.

In the United States, drop-off options were handled through USPS infrastructure rather than a dedicated Sendle network. Senders could leave parcels at post offices, blue USPS collection boxes, or hand them directly to a regular USPS mail carrier during a standard delivery round. Sendle also offered an in-dashboard self-service tool called Sendle Toolbox, which allowed senders to manage in-flight deliveries, launch investigations, and make shipping changes without submitting a customer support ticket reducing the need for direct contact with customer service teams in many routine situations.

All Sendle parcels in Australia were automatically booked with authority to leave, meaning the driver would leave a parcel at the receiver's premises without a signature if it was deemed safe to do so. This approach maximised first-attempt delivery success rates and reduced the proportion of failed deliveries. Authority to leave had to be specified at the time of the original booking and could not be added after a parcel had entered the network. If a delivery was attempted but conditions did not permit leaving the parcel unattended, the driver could arrange a free redelivery or leave the parcel with a designated nearby agent such as a local newsagency.

• Door pickup (Australia and USA): Free collection from the sender's address included with every booking
• Drop-off network (Australia): Over 900 locations powered by HUBBED, including BP petrol stations, newsagencies, pharmacies, and convenience stores, many operating 24/7
• Drop-off options (USA): Post offices, blue USPS collection boxes, or hand delivery to a regular USPS mail carrier
• Authority to leave: Automatically applied to all Australian bookings; must be specified at the time of the original booking and cannot be added retrospectively
• Redelivery: Available at no additional cost if a first delivery attempt could not be completed
• Left with Agent: Driver may leave a parcel at a designated nearby collection point such as a newsagency if direct delivery to the address is not possible
• Restrictions: Sendle could not deliver to PO boxes or any Australia Post-owned properties in Australia; all deliveries required a physical street address

What should I do if my Sendle parcel is lost or damaged?

Sendle automatically included insurance coverage called Sendle Cover on all eligible domestic and international packages at no extra cost. In the United States, Standard account holders received USD $100 in coverage per parcel, while Preferred account holders received USD $150. In Australia, all eligible packages received AUD $100 in coverage inclusive of GST. The cover applied from the point of the pickup scan through to the delivery scan, meaning packages that had not yet been physically inducted into the network were not covered. Return shipments were also excluded from Sendle Cover regardless of account tier or destination.

For higher-value items, senders could purchase an optional upgrade called Sendle Extra Cover. This extended the coverage limit to up to USD $500 in the United States and up to AUD $1,500 in Australia. Several categories were excluded from claims at any cover level, including force majeure events such as natural disasters, war, terrorism, or pandemics; consequential losses such as lost revenue or profit; damage attributable to inadequate packaging by the sender; and packages simultaneously covered by a third-party insurer where a claim had already been filed with that other insurer.

Filing deadlines applied to all claim types. For lost parcels, the sender was required to lodge an initial inquiry no more than 20 business days after the last date of the delivery estimate range, then file the formal claim within 10 business days of loss confirmation. Damaged parcels required a claim within 7 business days of the delivery date. Refunds on cancelled or unused labels were processed through Stripe and typically appeared within 5-10 business days of the refund being initiated. If a refund had not appeared after 10 business days, contacting Sendle support directly was the recommended next step.

• Sendle Cover (included): USD $100 per parcel for Standard US accounts, USD $150 for Preferred US accounts, AUD $100 for Australian accounts; applies from pickup scan to delivery scan
• Sendle Extra Cover (purchasable): Up to USD $500 in the USA; up to AUD $1,500 in Australia
• Claims process: Log in to the Sendle dashboard, click the claim button, provide details of parcel contents, proof of value such as a receipt or invoice, and bank details for reimbursement, then submit; Sendle's team responded within five business days and paid within five business days of acceptance
• Lost parcel deadline: Initial inquiry within 20 business days of the last ETA date; formal claim within 10 business days of loss confirmation
• Damaged parcel deadline: Claim must be filed within 7 business days of the delivery date
• Guaranteed delivery refund deadline: Contact Sendle support within 15 business days of the scheduled delivery date for 2-Day and 3-Day Guaranteed services
• Label cancellation refunds: Processed through Stripe; typically appear within 5-10 business days of the refund being initiated

Does Sendle handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Sendle's international delivery capability was built on a partnership with DHL eCommerce, established in 2017, which gave the company access to DHL's global distribution network and customs processing infrastructure. Through this arrangement, Sendle could ship internationally to over 180 countries and territories from Australia, with some sources citing coverage extending to over 220 countries worldwide. International shipments were physically handled by Sendle until export from Australia, at which point DHL eCommerce took over for customs clearance and final delivery in the destination country.

For international shipments, senders completed customs documentation through the Sendle booking flow at the time of label creation. The sender was responsible for accurately declaring parcel contents and their value. Standard customs processing times were factored into delivery time estimates, though actual delivery could vary depending on clearance speeds in the destination country. Most international shipments operated under DDU terms, also known as Delivered Duty Unpaid, meaning the recipient in the destination country was responsible for any applicable import duties and taxes that arose upon arrival of the parcel.

International packages from Australia were subject to a maximum weight of 20 kg and a maximum volume of 100 litres. For US-origin international shipments, the minimum longest dimension was 15 cm and the maximum was 61 cm. International pricing was calculated based on the destination zone, the greater of actual weight versus volumetric weight, and the sender's account tier. Countries subject to US trade embargoes and destinations lacking a DHL network arrangement were excluded from the service. General prohibited items included dangerous goods, hazardous materials, alcohol, and cannabis-derived products, in addition to any items illegal under the laws of the destination country.

• International carrier partner: DHL eCommerce, providing coverage to over 180 countries and territories (some sources cite over 220)
• Customs terms: DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) for most shipments; import duties and taxes are the responsibility of the recipient in the destination country
• Package limits (international from Australia): Maximum 20 kg and 100 litres
• Package limits (international from USA): Minimum longest dimension 15 cm, maximum longest dimension 61 cm
• Excluded destinations: Countries under US trade embargoes and territories without a DHL network arrangement
• Prohibited items: Dangerous goods, hazardous materials, alcohol, cannabis-derived products, and items prohibited by the laws of the destination country

Understanding tracking statuses

Sendle tracking references, also called Sendle reference numbers, were six to eight alphanumeric characters that always began with the letter "S". Documented examples of the format include STTB3K3, S8WJXMR, SW6YFSC, and S3NDL301. Senders could track their orders directly from the Sendle account dashboard by clicking on the relevant order. Recipients tracked via the dedicated Sendle tracking page by entering their reference number, and if the sender had included the recipient's email address at the time of booking, automated email notifications were sent at key tracking milestones throughout the delivery journey.

For rural, remote, or cross-border deliveries, a parcel could be transferred to a partner carrier for last-mile completion. In Australia, these partners were Couriers Please and Fastway/Aramex, while in the United States, USPS and FedEx handled last-mile delivery, and for international shipments, DHL eCommerce took responsibility once the parcel left Australia. Once handed to a partner carrier, tracking updates depended on that carrier's scan events feeding back into Sendle's platform. Third-party aggregators including also supported Sendle tracking numbers, giving recipients additional options for following their shipments without accessing the Sendle platform directly.